Jets hope to feel energized — not nerves — at home opener
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 16/10/2014 (4003 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Expect a more settled, predictable game from the Winnipeg Jets when they take to the MTS Centre ice Friday night for the fourth home opener of the 2.0 era.
The Jets meet the Nashville Predators at 7 p.m. (TSN3, TSN1290).
Winnipeg began the 2014-15 season on the road with an opening victory in Arizona and a pair of losses in San Jose and Los Angeles.
“I don’t feel we’d be using that now,” Jets coach Paul Maurice said today, asked about anxiety about home-openers. “I think having played games takes a big chunk of that uncertainty out of the way.
“There should be some nerves — we want that energy, the home crowd — but I don’t feel that level of (nerves). I think having three games under your belt takes a lot of those nerves out of opening the season. They’ve been through a few grinds.”
The Jets dropped the first two home openers of the new era, the first and historic game to Montreal in 2011, and the second to Ottawa when the lockout-shortened season began in early 2013.
Last October, Winnipeg defeated the Kings in its first home game of the season, actually starting an eventual non-playoff season at 2-0.
Friday’s expected energy was something frequently mentioned today by the Jets.
“These home openers are nice because it’s good for the fans and they’ve done a lot over the years to improve (the games),” veteran centre Jim Slater said. “I’ve seen some crazy shows in my day of teams trying to get us pumped up. They do a great job here in Winnipeg.”
Added Maurice: “I’m expecting the energy of the home crowd and everybody to be real excited but it doesn’t feel like the unknown of your first game,” he said. “That first game is so much like the first game after Christmas. You’re just not sure what’s happening after the puck drops, especially in the first 10 minutes.
“I think the game will be pretty sorted right from the start.”
The Jets made a roster adjustment with their AHL team today, assigning goalie Jussi Olkinuora from the St. John’s IceCaps to the ECHL’s Ontario Reign.
The move leaves Connor Hellebuyck and Peter Budaj are the IceCaps goaltending tandem for now.
tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca
